CRUNCH ROLL INTO ROCHESTER
 
The Syracuse Crunch play their first midweek game of the season tonight against the Rochester Americans at Blue Cross Arena.
 
The Crunch defeated the Amerks, 3-0, on Saturday as part of their 4-0-0-0 start to the season. The clubs are slated to face off 12 times this season.
 
BROADCAST COVERAGE
 
Countdown to Crunch Time at 6:50 p.m.
Streaming: Pay-to-watch video via AHLTV on FloHockey | www.syracusecrunch.com/watch
Radio: ESPN Radio Syracuse | www.espncny.com
 
LAST TIME OUT
 
Five different players scored goals for the Crunch en route to a 5-3 win against the Belleville Senators Sunday at CAA Arena.
 
Dominic James extended his point streak to four games with the opening tally of the first period. Tristan Allard and Lucas Mercuri struck four and a half minutes apart in the second period to put the Crunch up 3-1. 
 
Dylan Duke and Boris Katchouk potted their first goals of the season in the third period as the Crunch fended off any thoughts of a Belleville comeback. 
 
Ryan Fanti made 21 saves to improve to 2-0-0.
 
CLICKING TO START THE SEASON
 
The Crunch have rattled off four straight wins to open the season. It matches the longest winning streak to open a season in team history. Syracuse is one of six teams without a regulation loss through the first two weeks of the season. The Crunch are one of four teams with a 4-0-0-0 record.
 
Syracuse is 3-0-0-0 on the road in 2025-26. That follows a nine-game road winning streak which closed the 2024-25 regular season; that streak matched their franchise record.
 
THE LINE IS COOKING
 
The Crunch are getting solid production from their line of Dylan Duke, Wojciech Stachowiak and Boris Katchouk. All three players tallied goals over the weekend. Stachowiak netted his first AHL goal in Saturday's win against Rochester. He then had the primary helper on goals by Duke and Katchouk Sunday in Belleville.
 
The trio have combined for nine points (3g, 6a) through the team's first four games. Katchouk's three assists are tied for the team lead.
 
GEEKIE JOINS THE CRUNCH
 
Forward Connor Geekie has been reassigned to the Crunch after playing in six games with the Tampa Bay Lightning. While in Tampa, the 21-year-old averaged 10:02 time on ice, tallied one assist and dished out 15 hits, tied for the most among Bolts players. The Strathclair, Manitoba, native has played in 58 career NHL games, all with the Lightning, amassing eight goals and 15 points. 
 
In 24 games with Syracuse last year, the forward logged 11 goals and nine assists.
 
D'ASTOUS EARNS FIRST NHL RECALL
 
Defenseman Charle-Edouard D'Astous has been recalled by Tampa Bay. D'Astous, 27, has played in all four games for the Crunch this season, notching one goal and three assists to pace the Syracuse defense. 
 
The Rimouski, Quebec, native is looking to make his NHL debut. D'Astous has appeared in 27 total AHL games between the Crunch, Colorado Eagles and Grand Rapids Griffins. He joins the Bolts in Tampa for a matchup with the Chicago Blackhawks tomorrow night.
 
SCOUTING THE AMERICANS
 
Rochester has alternated wins and losses through four games. The Amerks won their season opener on home ice on Oct. 10, and they've played three straight on the road since. With four points the Amerks are in fifth place in the North Division.
 
Isak Rosén tops the Amerks and ranks fifth in the league with six points (3g, 3a). He had points in the first three games of the season before he and the Amerks were blanked Saturday versus the Crunch.
 
An already crowded Rochester crease saw the addition of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen on a condition assignment. He last played for the Amerks in 2022-23; he is 32-26-11 in 69 career AHL appearances. He was injured to start the season with Buffalo, where he has appeared in 109 games over the last two seasons.